January 15, 2006

Panthers Bury Bears: Steve Smith had 12 catches for a career-high 218 yards and two long touchdowns, including a 58-yard scoring reception on the second play from scrimmage, in a 29-21 Carolina Panthers victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFC playoffs. The Bears only gave up 150 or more yards to one receiver during the regular season -- Smith had 14 receptions for 169 yards in a week 11 13-3 Bears victory.

Amazing what Smith and co. were able to do to the vaunted Bears defense. The Bears' D had only given up a combined 61 pts. at home this season...and the Panthers' O put 29 on them in one game! There's definitely something to be said for recent playoff experience. A little playoff swagger goes a long way...unless you're in NE!

Amazing what Smith and co. were able to do to the vaunted Bears defense. I have thought that the Bears have been overrated the entire season, as they have played the Lions, Packers, and Vikings twice. They also almost got beat by the Lions when Jeff Garcia was quarterback. Congrats to Carolina, that is who I'm picking to go to the Super Bowl.

Wow, what a game! And to think that I had free tickets for it too. It's a very long story, but suffice to say, I can't believe that I wasn't able to go. Shouldn't there be a crying dancing banana? I love that Nick Goings was able to pretty much pick up where DeShaun left off. Hopefully he'll be able to continue to fight for yards in Seattle.

Who in the NFL can stop STEVE SMITH? That guy in unreal! The bad part of the game was HORRIBLE call just like in the Steelers-Colts game! The NFL office has to do something, especially when the replay officials are missing obvious calls!

smith is carolina with out him they would haven't been even close crucial 3rds and the moments, where you felt the momentum go to the bears. thats when smith stepped up 200+ yards and 2 touchdowns against the bears come on..... if smith has a decent game aginst seahawks(which is ovious) than he is my playoff MYP.

Exactly, the officials can't make the right calls even with replay. The Palomalu INT, among other ones. the bears had a good season, the panthers wanted it more, they came out on top. Looks like the seahawks will have their hands full next week.

OK, the nerves have calmed a bit, the heartbeat has regulated to close to normal levels. Breathe. Rex Grossman clearly had the best day of any rookie quarterbacks in this playoff season. This is a dude that has taken exactly* two-thirds of a snap in his professional career and he looked, at times, like a seasoned vet. Good on him for bringing the rookie stats up to room temperature. * - may not be totally exact.

Maybe it is my conspiratorial mind at work but, the replay has opened up another tool for the puppet masters. The refs seem to consistantly call close plays the way that would most likely lead to a replay. (the fumble through the endzone as a td) they already knew that the play would be negated, if they called a touchback.( because of the personal foul) The chances of Fox not challenging the TD call were slim and none, and slim had already left town. Who Cares? Big Deal, So what?. I think that once it's in the replay booth, a team of league "officials" decide the fate of football humanity, not unlike the Robert Deniro character in "Wag the Dog". A professional Mr Fix It. Why you ask? I haven't really thought this all the way through yet but I'm working on it!

Grossman played pretty well once he shook off the butterflies, certainly a lot better than Orton would have (and it pains me to say that as a Purdue grad). It's not his fault that they lost. Why Smith wasn't double and even triple-teamed is a mystery to me. He's the guy that had to be stopped.

Isn't it great when no one gives the Panthers a snowballs chance to win? That only gives them more reason to show what they're made of. Look out Seattle, here we come. Yea, Panthers posted by kcook1950 at 9:10 PM CST on January 15 Your not going to win your arguement here. About 30 people picked Carolina to 15 who picked the Bears to win on this site alone. Bottom line though is that Carolina wanted to win more than the Bears did.

The Bears have youth, a solid foundation and will be back. Carolina has a bit more experience and enough speed on offense to get the job done but I think their season will end in Seattle. Good job to Chicago and their fans on reaching the playoffs.

I have not seen a carolina game all year, but damn all the talk during the season about smith deserving to be the MVP was correct. I know their schedule wasn't cake like seattle's was. Come on kcook1950 the panthers were favorites to go to the big show since the preseason, now the steelers...NO ONE thought they would pull it out. I love it when these "experts" gotta put their foot in their mouths and pull out excuses for the colts not making it this year. Da bears had a good season and will be back.

Considering HOW teams like the BEARS have played and won this season...the PLAYOFF's are becoming silly. Especially if we COMMEND teams like the BEARS and COLTS during the season, and then CONDEM them during the playoffs. If this is true, THEN WHAT THE HELL HAVE THEY ACCOMPLISHED????? GripN'Gripe

I'd thought there wouldn't be 40 points scored in the entire game; impressive that both teams scored 20+ against some pretty stiff defenses. Nice to have the Bears back in postseason play. I wasn't all that confident that the Panthers could beat the Bears in Chicago, and Seattle is going to be a whole new adventure in overachieving -- I hope.

Saturday=Good football Sunday=Pllllppllpbbb! I thought the Panthers/Bears game was the best played game of the weekend. The Pats gave the Broncs the game with turnovers, the Redskins' inept offense made the Seahawks game a rough slog, and the Colts/Steelers became an ArenaBowl at the end. I would never have figured Rex Grossman could keep the Bears in the game until the final drive, especially after the way he started out throwing all of those ducks.

Congrats to Panthers! But the real losers was the fans with the shoddy penalty calls and non calls is what ultimately decided the game.Was I the only one to notice that Mangum's catch in the endzone had actually touched the ground when he fell down.Can't believe the ref's didn't pick that up.Bottom line though was the play of Smith who was allover the field.A couple of good legal hit's could have made him a little more apprehensive.Bear's just didn't play their style of aggressive football!

thought the Panthers/Bears game was the best played game of the weekend Yea, #33 Charles Tillman, DB for the Bears. It was the best game he ever " watched ", too! Well, he only fell down twice, which only led to 2 tds. The other times he was beat were between the 20's!

I knew the Bears secondary was suspect, most notably the corners, but I didn't realize they were THAT bad. Oh well, Bears had a good season and as long as Grossman can stay healthy, they will be back next year and have a better showing.

Tillman wasn't alone in having trouble with the Soldier Field turf. John Kasay missed a PAT because of it, which is the only reason the Bears were within one score at the end, and Rex Grossman nearly blew up his leg trying to slide. The NFL should do something about that painted dirt field before the Bears next host a playoff game in 10 years or so.

What the hell was the deal with the field? I swear to God, I've played and coached on Pop Warner venues with better footing. Good on the Panthers ... although I was pulling for the Bears. I've been against Carolina since one of Espen's morons referred to the Panther QB as his "Dela-homie".

Carolina won the game on the first drive setting the tone of the game with the TD pass to Smith. It took the fans out and hung a big ? on the vaunted Chicago D. A strategic early gutsy call that paid off.

The turf seemed to be quite soft, but as is usually said, both teams had to contend with it. The Bears seemed to have the biggest problem with the turf when they were flailing away trying to stay with Steve Smith, who's talent and ability is so far beyond any of the Bears defenders it can't truly be described. Hopefully, this puts an end to the comparison of the Bears defense to those of others in the past, whether it's the Ravens of a few years back, or that of the '85 Bears. Not even close.

Let's face it, the Bears survived the season with a 1950s offense and had a record over 0.500, only because they played in the worst division that the NFL has seen in years. They purposely let the field rot, thinking that such a move would keep the game low-scoring. Guess they forgot that good offenses love to play in slop, which gives the advantage to the passing game.

Much respect to Steve Smith. He is one hell of an athlete and the biggest threat at the position since T.O. However just like the "Catch 2" against Green Bay was the birth of T.O the asshole, this year will be the birth of another amazing talent whose mouth will overshadow his incredible play. Mark my words. He hasn't done anything to show this kind of behavior yet but neither did T.O. until that game.

Finally the Bears show offense and a pretty decent one at that. Too bad the defense decided they wanted to start the off-season 3 weeks early. Being a huge Bear fan, it was heart-breaking as well as comical to watch Steve Smith constantly make the Bears D look worse than my old high schools D. Funny how things work out, Lovie Smith was going to replace Charles Tilman earlier in the season and maybe even get rid of him from the team due to all his average at best play skills. It was other defensive players who stuck up for Tilman to Smith saying they need to stick with him. Do you think they regret that pleading now? Nathan Vashers name hardly got mentioned and that was due to the Panthers picking on Tilman the whole game. Why didn't the Bears take him out? Why couldn't they switch Tilman and Vashers positions. Both have played the other side before so why not yesturday? I'm not even going to make a guess as to who will get to the Super Bowl only because most of us have been wrong to this point. The Colts were the huge favorite and the Steelers made them look really bad until the second half. The Giants were everyones favorite against Carolina and that didn't happen. All I will say is if Steve Smith contiues like he did against the Bears, they will have a really good chance. Without his catches, they are out. Denver is diplaying the most heart so far but I believe that can't carry them all the way {not a prediction, just a feeling}. Most are thinking Seahawks/Steelers and I will say I am one of them. If I was to guess a winner of the SB, I would say the Steelers for sentimental reasons aimed at the Bus {but I am not betting money this year}.

It doesn't help Smith that the Panthers may have to establish their running game, in the NFC Championship, with their 3rd string running back. Nothing against Nick Goings, but if Smith has a sub-par performance against Seattle, I'd tend to think it was due to the lack of a quality running game for Carolina. Foster was just coming into his own. As for the above comment comparing Smith to T.O., should his success continue, I don't see it happening. Smith seems to be the most driven individual I've seen in pro football in quite some time. Reports of how hard he worked coming back from last season's early injury impressed me. To be the best receiver in the NFL these days, you have to have a certain cockiness. That being said, T.O. has problems dealing with other humans. Smith enjoys the game and wants to be the best.

OK, so the Panthers won. Congratulations. While the Bears D was most certainly not present at Soldier Field last night, the Panthers committed some stupid penalties that kept the Bears in the game (too bad the Bears couldn't cash them into victory). Go Seahawks...avenge the Bears. And while you're at it: could somebody please give Steve Smith a cheap shot next Sunday??

You would have been making the same comments about TO 7 years ago. Take a moment to listen to Steve Smith on the sidelines and remember back to when TO used to motivate himself by talking about himself and how people "hate to love me". Steve Smith has the same mentality.

Why are We talking about T.O.? It's obvious that he was a great player who didn't know how to play well with others and that's why he is without a team {for the moment} fact is, players yuck it up in every sport and always have. It's not about having a bad attitiude or ego, it's how it's used. TOs ego and attitude are the things that made people hate him while his skill is what made people respect him. Eventually he will find a team that will take a chance on him and he will prove or disprove what everybody says about him. Until then, I personally am not interested in hearing the name. Steve Smith can talk the talk because he took a top 2 defense and made them look bad. Hopefully he won't let it go to his head and become a new cancer to the sport.

The Bears were the most overated team in football. Their defense amassed impressive stats against terrible teams in the worst division. Also they play a big portion of their games in horrific weather which impedes most offenses anyway. Jeez the weather is so bad in Chicago offenses can barely score if no defense is on the field. It comes as no suprise when they play a decent team on the only good weather day Chicago has ever seen in January, their defense is exposed as mediocre at best. They had to be worried when the weather turned out nice. To allow one player like Smith to be constantly wide open down the field is inexcusable for even a lousy defense. What a make money weekend! Seattle beats a lousy team from a division that the Giants won. A team whos offense was struggling to get a hundred yards a game. Pretty easy to see that coming, even without Sean Alexander. The Colts choke, surprise, surprise, surprise. What else is new? Da Bears are the da same ole da Bears, finally reach mediocre status while the rest of their sorry division goes to into the toilet (did anybody really think this team was going anywhere?)The only real surprise of the weekend was the Patriots playing poorley. The teams that are left are the teams that deserve it. I figured the Super Bowl to be between Seattle and the Pats, but with the Patriots getting beat it looks like the winner of Pittsburgh vs Denver goes all the way.

The weather here in Chicago has been above average temps since the beginning of the season. As far as impeding defenses, both teams have to play in the same conditions which gives both teams equal chance. There was no excuse for either team to use from conditions deciding outcome. The one thing that always bothers me about weather being the reason for a teams underwelming performance is that there are two teams performing and yet one team always uses that as an excuse as to why they lost. Sammy Sosa use to say that day games at Wrigley were what caused his slow starts in his career with the Cubs but what happened when he went to Baltimore last season {good luck in Washington}? He got hurt several times and was not used due to lack of performance. I have been listening to news all day now and not one time have I heard any Bear player use the conditions as to why they lossed the game so why is that being used here. Every one of them said the same thing, the Panthers were a better team and We didn't get it done. Sounded to me like a losing team offering props to the better team to me. Fact is this, the Bears are in a worse division as of the last couple of years than any other division, BUT...how many teams that started in the playoffs lost to Miami and San Fransisco? I don't believe that New England comes from a very strong division and they looked as bad if not worse than the Bears did. The Vikings were a good team this season with too much baggage, otherwise it would have made for a much more interesting finish. The Lions and Packers were horrible true, bu let's talk Seattle. They have a pretty bad division where they were the only team to finish above .500. St. Louis was 6-10 and the runner up in that division. Yet, nobody has made mention of that. Same amount of teams, same chances at proving how good your team is, but everyone saying that the Bears are in a weak division is weak. The offense was weak and may remain that way, but special teams and defense got them to the show and they obviously couldn't hang, but that doesn't make them mediocre, it just makes them the loser of that game. I do agree that the AFC will most likely be the winner just like they will be in the pro-bowl.

I wasn't singling anybody out with the TO thing at all. I just get sick of hearing about the moron so much. He doesn't deserve our interest or care until he earns it back. Until then, I'd rather stick to the ones who earn our comments and opinions. We are hear to discuss current sports topics. We disagree to many things but I am not into talking anyone into siding with me at all, but to make my points clear. If someone has an opposing thought, it can sway me at any time, but I try to make my thoughts fair and just to the subject. There are too many ignorant people on these sites who think posing a harsh thought or using profanity is going to make them heard better. I am a person who uses both facts and opinions to the best of my knowledge. If you agree, great. If not, that's great too because We live in a country that allows for that. In other words, I am not disagreeing with what you say at all jr. I am a wait and see kind of guy. Smith has proven only that he can beat you, the other person proved that he's an idiot who needs to work a "real" job to respect the gifts he was truly given.

"Their defense amassed impressive stats against terrible teams in the worst division." They only allowed 13.4 pts/game against the playoff teams they faced during the regular season - - that's still good for #1 in the league.

"Also they play a big portion of their games in horrific weather which impedes most offenses anyway." Well, you're entitled to your opinion regarding bad weather impeding offenses, however, I'd say the games against San Francisco , Atlanta, and Pittsburgh were the only ones played in "horrific" weather (and Pittsburgh was a loss for the Bears). On preview -- well said, melcarek.

I actually watched this football match and was unimpressed by Da Bears highly touted defense. The secondary look liked shit, slipping all over the field and whatnot (I understand the field was in bad shape but it is their home field) and the linebackers did an awful job getting at the Carolina QB.

redsnare - are you trying to say the Bears defense was not overrated? Just look at the stats from yesterdays game. Passing yards, running yards, first downs, lenght of drives, you name it. Not only could they not stop Smith but they didn't even try to double team him. The guy was wide open behind the defense all game long. Trying to deny that weather in Chicago does not inhibit offenses is a little crazy. I am not saying they didn't have good defensive stats during the season, I am saying those stats were not an accurate reflection of their defense. They had a relatively easy schedule, in a terrible division combined with a wether location that is notorious for producing low scoring games. If the Bears defense was not overated then it just choked. It isn't like they got beat on a couple of defensive mistakes. The Panthers moved the ball at will all game long. When the day turned out to be a good one weather-wise the Bears home field advantage went out the window. Actually I would bet on Pittsburgh's defense any day over the Bears so called number 1 defense. I do not know the Bears schedule for every game but they played a lot of teams that couldn't score many points to begin with. It sure must have been quite a wake up call when the Panthers took the opening kickoff and proceeded to drive right down the field easily for a touchdown against such a devestating defense. They never recovered.

What a couple of great games this past weekend, Carolina was just to much for the young Bears, but the Bears played hard. Although i wanted Indy, they again didnt deserve to win. Seattle better have there A game going this weekend, i Believe the Panthers are hungry for some BIRD, of the SEAHAWK variety. Hope this weekends games will be exciting as the last 2 were. The refs were terrible in all the games, hope they get better ones for the next games, cause they all SUCKED last weekend

If the Bears defense was not overated then it just choked. Once again, the Bears defense was never overrated. Yesturday they DID choke! If you are going the easy schedule route, fine. How about Seattle? They were actually in an easier division. I will never say that the Bears didn't have it easy, but the Vikings did make it interesting in the seasons second half. When did the Rams, Cards or 49ers make the west interesting? Never! The NFC north had 18 total wins from 2nd, 3rd and 4th place and the NFC west had 15 from their 2nd, 3rd and 4th. What about the so-called mighty Patriots and the AFC east? They finished with one less win than the Bears while their 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams finished with the same total wins as the NFC North. Please stop saying the Bears had it easy, because they didn't. They had as easy or difficult schedule as at least 2 other divisions. As far as defense, as a whole the Bears d would have dominated in either division mentioned. If it were all the other divisions, who knows. Main fact is, this was a really good year for a team no-one expected to get as far as they did and yet, did it. I said 2 months ago that if the Bears made the post season and won it all it would be a stain on all of pro football due to lack of offense and a poor excuse for a back-up {and overrated at that} quarterback in Kyle Orton but please don't try to say that a dominating defense is because of this and that, record books don't care. They may have been better in another division they may have been worse, but We will never know.

I do not know the Bears schedule for every game but they played a lot of teams that couldn't score many points to begin with. You must be basing your opinion on the one and only Bears game you saw this year. With the exception of the Pittsburgh game, the Bears Defense shut down everyone's offense this season. To say they were overrated shows an ignorance for football. Regadless of the division they play in, the Bears put up some impressive defensive stats. Carolina found a way to exploit the secondary and capitalized on it every chance they got. Carolina played a hell of a game and deserved to win but you can't deminish what the Bears accomplished this year with an offense that could not find the endzone. with a wether location that is notorious for producing low scoring games. You are obviously not overly familiar with Chicago weather. We have had incredibly mild winters for the past several years (with the exception a short-lived cold snap here and there). To say Chicago weather produces low scoring games is like saying New York, Green Bay, New England, etc. also produces low scoring games. Doesn't make much sense, does it?

It comes as no suprise when they play a decent team on the only good weather day Chicago has ever seen in January Actually Atheist the weather has been nice all January in Chicago. It's been 40's for a couple of weeks now and going to be the same for yet another week, so the weather isn't always bad in Chicago. Is it as bad as Seattle where it's been raining for for an entire month. I don't know if I could handle that type of weather. Lets all not forget this Bears defense is young and under contract for the next few years. I wanna see what they can do when they become smarter players with a few more years experience. If the offense catches up a little bit to the defense the Bears will be a scary team to play in the future. Mark my words.

Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying as are others in this thread. I agree, the Bears should have double-teamed Steve Smith on nearly every play, however, the cover 2 scheme the Bears use is intended to have the safeties act as the double-team on the deep routes. The safeties, and cornerbacks, blew their defensive roles, though.

"Trying to deny that weather in Chicago does not inhibit offenses is a little crazy."

Well, now I know why the Bears offense was so stagnant.

"I do not know the Bears schedule for every game but they played a lot of teams that couldn't score many points to begin with."

They held Carolina, Atlanta, and Washington to a combined 13 points! All three are in the top-half of the league in scoring.

the Bears Defense shut down everyone's offense this season. Yup, the "great" Jeff Garcia was just shut down by the vaunted Bears defense. From above posts, I think its about time Steve Smith got some credit. The Bears didn't choke, they just weren't good enough to stop Smith. If this had been the only game that Smith had lit them up in then that would be a valid arguement, but Smith had over 150 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing) last time these two teams played. Smith wasn't NFL leader in yards for a reason, he torched the Bears defense and there is nothing else to it (wonder if Muhammed wishes he was back in Carolina now?).

Smith did have over 150 yards receiving in that first meeting, though. Yes, YYM, Steve Smith is an amazing wide receiver and deserves the respect and admiration that goes along with that ability. Anybody seen a stat on how many dropped passes Moose had yesterday? He's been pissing me off with that recently.

In all fairness to Smith and the scoring in the first meeting. Smith was just back from an ingury and wasn't at his best. That game was truly won by the Bear defense and that may not have been any different if Smith had been completely healthy. Once again though, can't go back and change time. As far as this Post, I'm done here. I'm trying to be fair to all the possibilities pro/con wise and all some of you are doing is speaking out of hate for a team. I hate the White Sox, but when they won the WS, I congratulated all the White Sox fans for what that team accomplished. When the Bears lost yesterday, they nor I made no excuses for losing outside the fact that they couldn't get it done. That is refreshing compared to Pittsburgh players who even in winning still whine and crab about officiating. Mistakes happen...deal with it! The so called facts that these so called football fans keep coming up with just tells me that their knowledge of football is as reasonable as the respect they have for the other people opinions on this post.

How 'bout it snare! I think he had at least 4 drops. And this wasn't an isolated game, either. He has dropped A LOT, regardless if it was Orton or Grossman tossing the ball. Something about his attitude rubs me the wrong way, too. It almost seemed like he was protesting the fact that Orton was the QB by how he was playing. I don't know if he's a team player.

I am very familiar with Chicago weather as half my family comes from Chicago. You are right Chicago is not the only city with bad weather, but Chicago has just about the worst weather of all NFL cities. Sure other cities get cold but the wind combined with the cold is an offense killer. They played 8 games in Chicago, one game in Green Bay, one game in Cleveland, one game in Pittsburgh which contributes to lower scoring games on average. Sure the Bears won a lot of their games against really bad teams and even held some bad teams to very low scores, help to keep their overall PA average total lowest in the league. When the Chicago defense faced good teams their defense didn't look that great. Cincinnatti scored 24 points, Cleveland scored 20 points, Pittsburgh scored 21, Minnesota scored 34. In the last three games they played the gave up 80 points. To put the Bears of 2005 into perspective heres what they accomplished: They beat Detroit twice, and Green Bay twice big deal. They split with Minnesota and gave up 34 points in the loss. 5 wins within their weak division. They beat Baltimore, Atlanta, San Francisco and New Orleans. None of which were playoff teams They beat two teams that made the playoffs during the entire season Carolina and Tampa Bay. True they held Carolina to only three points in Chicago and lets face it Tampa Bay lost by three points not exactly an offensive minded team. They did play some playoff calibre teams during the season like Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati. 3 losses. The Bears only played 5 games against playoff teams during the season and lost 3 out of five of them. Of course it is an advantage for all teams to play at home, but to say playing a large percentage of games in cold windy wether is not an advantage for a defense's statistics, is ludicrous. They played Minnesota (an indoor team)outdoors in Chicago and held them to 3 points. They face the same team indoors and Minnesota wins 34 to 10. Most of the good offenses they played scored well against them. Bottom line 11 wins, 9 of them against non-playoff teams. 3 of the wins against decent teams. I am considering Minnesota a decent team. Chicago's record against decent teams 3 wins and 5 losses. Like I said their statistics and record misrepresented their level of play. All a team can do is win wherever they are asked to play. The fact remains in favorable weather conditions yesterday, against a playoff team the Chicago defense showed the world how good they aren't. By the way. I like the Bears. The 85 Bears were my favorite of all time. I was rooting for them yesterday. I am just calling like I see it. They had no business comparing their defense to the defense of 85 any more than the Colts could compare themselves to the undefeated Dolphins. No Bear hater hear.

That is refreshing compared to Pittsburgh players who even in winning still whine and crab about officiating. Mistakes happen...deal with it! The so called facts that these so called football fans keep coming up with just tells me that their knowledge of football is as reasonable as the respect they have for the other people opinions on this post. I also won (my pools and bets) and yes, I'm still complaining about the officiating. Not complaining and demanding something be done only sanctions poor officiating. It's time the NFL gets serious about this issue. Saying "we're sorry" doesn't cut it.

You know what Atheist - enough. Don't even count the loss to Minnisota when they scored 34 points cause we weren't even trying. We already had the bye and were set in the playoffs. Not many people on this site were saying that the bears defense was a good as 85 so your not going to win that arguement either. Just let it lie man your going to give yourself an ulcer. Most Bears fans on this site are saying "they didn't do it yesterday". Carolina played better, bottom line. Why don't you take it easy on the stats about a team that isn't even in the playoffs anymore. Your precious defense of 85 is still sacred. Just like the Dolphins precious undefeated year is also still sacred. No Bear hater hear. posted by Atheist at 4:51 PM CST on January 16 Then please stop rubbing salt in our wounds.

i don't know if it's that as much as it's fun to knock people off their pedestals. i think the bears believed a little too much of their own hype. posted by ninjavshippo at 6:30 PM CST on January 16 OK I have to. This is coming from a Packer fan who knows about getting knocked off a pedestal. Does it help your pain of not even making it?

You are right Chicago is not the only city with bad weather, but Chicago has just about the worst weather of all NFL cities. Sure other cities get cold but the wind combined with the cold is an offense killer. Is this a reference to the "windy city" nickname? That term is apparently a misnomer, at least if you're talking about meteorological windiness. In that category, Boston has the highest average wind speed of any major US city. Outside of a major city, Mount Washington is of course the windiest place on average, with Blue Hill Observatory just south of Boston being second. Soooo...if you're considering wind plus cold to be a significant factor in creating challenging weather for football, seems like Foxboro MA would certainly be a lead contender.

OK I have to. This is coming from a Packer fan who knows about getting knocked off a pedestal. Does it help your pain of not even making it? well, yes, duh. here's your degree in obvious-onomics. your pain helps make me whole again. thanks. :x

I think its about time Steve Smith got some credit. The Bears didn't choke, they just weren't good enough to stop Smith. ...umm, The guy fell down, twice!!!, that was 100 yards and 12 points right there. Technically the Bears could have lined up with 10 players and left Smith uncovered and the results would have been the same. If two uncontested TDs against the #2 NFL defense is not choking, then its close!

Maybe the Bears defence was just pissed that the coach of the year benched them all the last game of the season. They lost about 5 records they would have set. One record would have been a franchise record. The "coach of the year" said that was not important. He also sat a quarterback that only started 1 game during the season. Does anybody else think Lovie was the best coach after this game?

Skydivemom I understand you are upset, but I will have to agree that the Bears were overrated and I personally think Carolina is the better team. However, I do understand how you feel since I am an avid Michigan football fan, damn the Sun Belt. And yes, Steve Smith did not score a touchdown in the first game, I was wrong. I'll pause here so you can insert your reply about the Lions____________.

Likewise, until a couple years ago when I saw something about it in the Straight Dope or some-such. Stupid urban legends. In defense of the public misperception, though, the wind coming off the lake can be brutal.

However just like the "Catch 2" against Green Bay was the birth of T.O the asshole, this year will be the birth of another amazing talent whose mouth will overshadow his incredible play. Mark my words. He hasn't done anything to show this kind of behavior yet but neither did T.O. until that game. My nomination for "most asinine comment ever." I'm sure stupider things have been said here, but I wasn't around for them. Please disconnect your keyboard and never, ever use it again.

You know what YYM, I was wrong to slam the guy about the Packers. It doesn't help my pain so I am not going to slam the Lions. All team fans (except for the one who wins the big one) are going to feel pain this year. In the great words of YYM "Wait till next year!"